@Brent, I'm no neurosurgeon, but I do remember Cauda Equina Syndrome being very serious stuff. One of the big deal diagnosesyou need to consider to avoid major problems. That WebMD link looks pretty accurate and detailed, maybe so detailed that the important thing gets lost. The big thing is that it can quickly lead to permanent nerve damage, resulting in permanent loss of bowel and bladder control, or paralysis of the legs. Which would be bad. Really bad. I 'm really glad you caught it and treated it quickly!
@Jim, hope you feel younger today! I am older than anyone in our circle, and older than anyone here that has 6 year olds. That makes me feel old. And my knees hurt when I give them a piggyback ride. And when I play soccer with my son, it's hard to run and change directions, and he says 'I hate to take advantage of an old man' and cracks up. Which is actually kind of funny. But hey, my life is more stable than any of them, my career further along, my experience and life knowledge, on and on. I feel like Yoda ... slow moving, but quick when I need to be, and more patient wiser than I was 20 yrs ago. I imagine you to be the same. But some days, I just feel old. and tired. Just like Yoda did.